I have successfully used a debit card from my credit union in Italy at ATMs with the Sirrus, etc. logoson the back, but it also has the Mastercard logo on it. I have a friend who just got a debit card from Bank of American with Sirrus, etc. on the back but it does not have a Mastercard or Visa logo on it. Can she use this at ATMs in Italy?

Bank of American took over my bank last year and issued me a debit card that would not work in Italy even though they assured me it would when I repeatedly questioned them on the issue. I have since closed my account with BofA.

Has anyone had experience with a Bank of American debit card WITHOUT the Visa or Mastercard logo? Thanks

Just so you know, I have Bank of America, have been to Italy numerous times, and I live overseas. I have had NO problem what-so-ever.

But if you don't have the visa or mastercard on MOST credit cards, unless they are linked to your bank, they will not work overseas.

I do not understand, my friend has a Visa credit card, but her debit card does not have a Visa or Mastercard logo. It just has sirrus and a few others on the back. Will this card work for withdrawing from her checking account back in the states?

The ATMs over there do not require belonging to VISA/Mastercard,etc. As long as they are part of the Sirrus,Plus, and other networks (depends on the bank ATM you are using), it will take money out of your pirmary account. You are not using the CC network.

My bank offer VISA cc. My ATM card accecsses only my accounts and it is PLUS. My VISA CC is also on PLUS, but I would never us it for cash withdrawals.

The VISA logo on my BA debit card is on the FRONT of the card. My card works in Italy, but with of course *#$! fees to go with it.

Many things have to be correct for a BA debit card to work. My experience with BA is that they are clueless. I take several debit cards from different banks to ensure I have a working debit card.

The card with Visa or Mastercard logo sounds like an ATM card and not a debit card. I have read different accounts on whether such card still works in Italy. Because I have a checking account at each bank, the bank forced me to convert all my ATM cards (no Visa, MC logos) to debit cards many years ago.

Even if you have a checking account, the card's primary account must be the checking account. While some claims they give you a choice of account in Europe, all the ATM I have ever used only dispense cash out of my checking account.

Then, the card must be enabled to operate in Italy without triggering fraud alert. You do this by calling the bank fraud department.

Then there are technical reasons. The ATM, the communications link, and your bank must be operational enough for you transactions to complete.

Then you have to understand your daily limit implications. I think BA uses calendar day of one of the US time zone. What appears different days in Europe is in fact the same day in the US.

And on top of this, there are times the debit card does not work. Sometimes finding another bank's ATM helps.

Check to be sure that what your friend has is actually a debit card, and not an ATM card. The ATM card should work fine at the bankomat machine (with a 3 digit pin number) , but probably won't be accepted for purchases in stores, restaurants, etc. An actual debit card can be used for both the bankomat and for purchasing in stores,ec. My Bank of America debit card has a Visa logo. Check with the bank and be very specific about what you want. Also, BOA has the option of a debit card with your picture on it. I have found this very helpful-- its actual proof that you are you without having to dig for other ID.

Correction to the above--pin number must be four digit, not three.

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Then, the card must be enabled to operate in Italy without triggering fraud alert. You do this by calling the bank fraud department.
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i love it when americans talk about calling the fraud dept of their american banks to let them know ahead of time that they will be traveling to greece, turkey, etc.

i asked about this with 2 of my uk banks after my card was frozen for using it in a 'high fraud risk' country. i asked if i can notify the bank ahead of time that i will be traveling to greece (high risk country), etc to avoid having my card stopped. they said 'no'. so i clarified with the bank how their 'customer friendly' process works...

i must go to a cash machine in greece, be declined for the withdrawl, have my card frozen from further use because of the fraud alert, then call my bank from overseas on my mobile phone (possibly at night in the rain etc) to have the card reactivated after telling them i'm in greece at the moment. the response was 'yes---that's the way it works and there is no other way. you cannot tell us ahead of time where you are going'.

why are usa banks so much further ahead and friendlier to banking in foreign countries. and greece is in the EU so why would do we accept

"The card with Visa or Mastercard logo sounds like an ATM card and not a debit card."
I think this statement has it backwards. ATM-only cards do not have the V/MC bug. The V/MC logos on a debit card indicate that the card can also be used for purchases at places thst accept those credit cards.

Exactly, I have an ATM card and it doesn't have any logo, why would it, it's just a bank card, not a debit card. I have no problem whatsoever using my logoless ATM card at European ATMs, but I must say I have not used it in Italy, so don't know if they are different than every other country I've been to and done that in Europe (Spain, France, Italy, CR, Poland, Germany). I've used it in other continents, also with no problem.

Of course an ATM card won't be accepted for purchases, it's not a debit card.

walkinaround,

US banks may be friendlier when it comes to fraud alert because this is a national issue as well as an international one. My credit union's security provider has 11 American locations, including NYC, where my credit card cannot be used without forewarning.

My logoless ATM-only cards have always worked fine in Italy, and everywhere else I've been (UK, France, Spain, Netherlands, Denmark), but I have heard that Belgium's banking system requires the V/MC bug for ATM use in that country.

OK, I seem to be slow on the uptake here. Debit cards are just that - they debit your checking account - immediate cash withdrawal. If you want to withdraw cash, you can use your debit card to withdraw from your checking account (even though it does not have a V/MC logo on front)but it does need the Sirrus, etc. logos on the back. If you have an ATM card, these are the ones with the V/MC logos on the front, you can debit your checking account immediately plus you can also charge with them. I guess the confusion is that some people use the words "debit card" and "ATM card" interchangably (is that a word)and it becomes confusing. To make it more confusing, you use your debit card at an ATM machine. All in know is when I punch in that pin number I just keep muttering "Show me the money."

ATM Card = for getting money out of the ATM. No V/MC logo.

Debit Card = for making purchases in stores and getting money out of the ATM. Has V/MC logo.

OK, november_moon, did I have it backwards? Your reply is clear. DEBIT CARD has the V/MC logo?
I will tell my friend that her ATM card should work as long as she finds a machine with the same Sirrus logos. Thanks for all of the replies.

Your friend should be checking herself with her bank.

Some ATM cards are referred to debit cards because in the USA they can be used for purchases at many places.

She did check with her bank. She just asked me what I used to get cash when I was in Italy. The question arose when she mentioned that she had just received her first ever debit card from Bank of America. That's when I told her what happened to me when I tried to use my BofA card in Italy. I was only trying to help a friend and that's why I asked everyone's experiences with BofA.

When I called my ATM bank to tell them I'm going to Europe, they said, make sure your 4-digit PIN does not start with zero - this was the first time I've heard about it, so I want to tell everybody here.

I don't recall seeing Sirrus/PLUS logos on bancomats in Italy, so your friend should not waste time hunting around for one with logos. She should just try it - bancomats seem to be on every street corner.

But now I'm confused. You mention she got a debit card, not a plain old ATM card. As stated above, a debit card has Visa/MC logo and can be used to make purchases with the $ debited from your checking account.

I don't know what to call it anymore - debit or ATM. The "card" she got from BofA has only symbols on the back (none of which are V/MC) nor do V/MC appear on the front. I should have said in my last post "her first ever ATM card".

They are a family that has only 1 credit card and this is her first debit/ATM? card. She has never used one before. So she is limited to having different ways to access her money. In years long past, she used travelers checks so this is completely new to her.